Mechanical control of physical properties in the van der Waals ferromagnet Cr2Ge2Te6 via application of electric current

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Hengdi Zhao - , University of Colorado Boulder (Author)
  • Yifei Ni - , University of Colorado Boulder (Author)
  • Bing Hu - , University of Colorado Boulder, North China Electric Power University (Author)
  • Sabastian Selter - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Saicharan Aswartham - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Yu Zhang - , University of Colorado Boulder (Author)
  • Bernd Büchner - , Clusters of Excellence ct.qmat: Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter, Chair of Experimental Solid State Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Pedro Schlottmann - , Florida State University (Author)
  • Gang Cao - , University of Colorado Boulder (Author)

Abstract

Cr2Ge2Te6 is a van der Waals ferromagnet with a Curie temperature at 66 K. Here we report a swift change in the magnetic ground state upon application of small DC electric current; a giant yet anisotropic magnetoelectric effect; and a sharp, lattice-driven quantum switching manifested in the I-V characteristic of the bulk single-crystal Cr2Ge2Te6. At the heart of these observed phenomena is a strongly anisotropic magnetoelastic coupling that enables strongly anisotropic responses of the lattice to application of electric current and/or magnetic field, which explains the exotic phenomena in Cr2Ge2Te6. Such a rare mechanical tunability in the magnetic semiconductors promises tantalizing prospects for unique functional materials and devices.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numberL041103
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume106
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jul 2022
Peer-reviewedYes